MY FIRST TRY AT A BLOG HEADER

OK - so my pictures are a few months out dated, but only because I didn't want to be up all night. I just wanted to learn how to do a header with pictures of my beautiful children (my sweet peas), and yes I know I'm bias. I can add updated pictures as I continue to learn more and more. Guess you could say a first project - not what I had in mind for my very first project but I wanted my blog to have a little more pizzaz if I'm going to be coming here more often. Unless you visited here before today, you missed out on the before picture - this header above would be the after picture. I'm definitely going to like using Picasa (for those inquiring minds).

WHERE DOES THAT TIME GO!

So as you can see I'm not too dedicated here. To tell you the truth, I never could keep up a journal past 6 months. Even with that I would jump days ahead or weeks. My intentions starting out were 1/2 a page daily, then as I worked myself out of denial I came up with every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I think that turned out to be the first Monday and Wednesday then there is this huge jump of about 2 weeks. Maybe a few more entries after that and well, it just never seemed to work out like I had planned it out in my head. Of course, that goes with many other things as well. I could pull the list of projects I made like 10 years ago and tell you just how far I managed on each of them and then you can have some sort of idea of what I'm talking about . . . but instead of depressing myself with that I would like to think I'm turning a new leaf of some sort because all of the sudden I have these ideas and urges roaming around in my head again and decided this would be the perfect place to let them loose.

With that, I have decided to take on these projects (or self gratification mountains I must climb to feel worthy), whatever it is or why I feel the need to post them from beginning to finish must have to do with accountability I would assume. Not to mention watching 'Julie and Julia' had to help trigger those brain cells. So with that - I am going to start my first project on here. I will give a little description of the project I will be biting off, post before pictures, during the process pictures and after pictures. Wow, I truly hope I didn't bite off more than I can chew just by saying that - we will see I guess . . . stay tuned for project #1 coming soon (hopefully to begin next week).

This will no doubt include various stories regarding motherhood and rearing my 5 darling children in the right direction - or at least keeping them pointed in that direction for as long as I have the power to. And who knows what other stories might show up - this is my blog, my vent, my ramblings and hopefully my way to get some things done around here :o)

Here's a recent picture of 'my sweet peas - sorry so small. I took stole it from my daughter's page and this is how it turned out. Maybe she can upload the real deal onto 'my' computer.

COMING BACK

So I'm thinking about coming back to my blog site and giving facebook a rest. I know I definitely don't have time to do both. Lately I have been in more of a writing mode and journaling my kids. I find facebook to be more of a social network and not so much where I would want to express views on certain issues or topics of choice. I love reconnecting with friends and its nice to see what everyone is up to, but I really don't need to know that on a daily basis like some do. I have my work cut out for me here with raising 5 kids - one in college and the youngest 4 and this is truly what defines me. Maybe I can find some creative writing moment when we go on vacation this week - Check back

PRICECUTTER AND POWERADE

I have a little boy (Montana) who is getting ready to have a birthday so we decided to go by Pricecutter to look at cakes. I noticed they had Powerade on sale for .79 and even though Walmart price is .75, they do not double your coupons and I had coupons for .50 off Powerade. So for these 5 Powerades and 2 concentrate lemon juice (for taking care of the overage and cooking purposes and that I was out and it was in the same isle - lol), I paid .13 - if you add the tax to that I paid .39 for everything! My little basketball player Remington was pretty thrilled as one of his biggest thrill of the game is to get to have his Powerade or Gatorade (whichever one mom was able to get a deal on at the time). I ended up making .21 on each Powerade. This made me in a much better mood after finding out that there was only one insert in the Sunday paper and that insert only had 2 coupons in the whole Red Plum :o( Sure hope next weeks is better.

WALGREENS AND WIPEES

I know it's been awhile since I posted any great deals, but it's not that I haven't found any. This one I thought I should to give a heads up and also because I was kind of thrilled as well. First I will just tell you right off that I paid whopping 1.75 for all these wipees!! 4 big bags and 1 tub. Here's where things went wrong (if you can say wrong with only paying $1.75 for this): I was suppose to get back a $10 RR after my purchase, but nothing printed out. When I asked the cashier about it she looked at the ad and told me only diapers received the RR's and upon looking at the picture only, it did appear that only diapers were included in this deal. However, after I got home I realized that in fact the wipees of 184 and above worked with the RR deal. Problem - the tub of wipees did not count, but the 4 big bags did. The 4 big bags of wipees did not come to $25, they came to $24 making me short $1 to get my $10 RR back. I should have just got another big bag of wippees, but I was making a couple dollars on the tub of wipees to pick up the extra dollar on each bag of wipees. So I am not sure if I will try to take this back to the store and see if I can correct this enough to get my $10 RR or not??? It was only $1.75 - but I was hoping for a money making deal on this one. Just in case you haven't heard yet, I used the $5 off huggies printable coupon.

FACEBOOK

Well I am going to admit it - I'm hooked on facebook! I think that's why my blogging page is lacking, that and the fact that I have not couponed in over 2 weeks - I KNOW! But if I was able to spill my life story on here, you would understand. Someday I may have to write a book. For now I just need prayers for me and the kids, but most importantly for Joe. If you could lift us up in prayer and also ask your church to as well, this is a gift I would cherish like none other and I thank you. Someday, when appropriate, I hope to share a beautiful testimony - til then, may God be with you and your family and bless you fully!

MY SUNDAY BEST OUTFIT

Well I was going to wait to post this until I had a picture to go with, but with rushing around Sunday morning to get 4 little boys to church and myself I totally forgot to take the picture. But I did get 2 tops, one a sweater with sleeves to the elbow (off white) and one sleeveless sweater (beige - can wear now with cardigan and Spring by itself). Also got a black cardigan sweater, adorable with one big black button. I thought these were all 50% off, but when I got up there she said they were buy one get one 50% off and I already tried on a dozen things and fell in love with these. My dillema now was I had 3, being that I pay full price for 2 and only 50% off 1 item unless I can find another item to get 50% off of. So back to the racks I went. Found a black argyle zip up hooded sweater. They had no skirts or pants my size to go with, so called my daughter to take me to the mall to find some black slacks. Unfortunately these were not on sale, but I tried on 6 or 7 pairs and I was just finally happy to find some that did the job. I guess you can tell I like black! Actually there are faint stripes in the material. Was hoping for grey pants, but none fit right. Even if it wasn't the big savings I thought I might find, it felt so nice to be all dressed up for church on Sunday. I'm hoping to expand my Sunday wardrobe with one outfit a month for the next 6 months and to include dresses, skirts and a suit jacket (maybe a pair of shoes as well ;o) So that is what I spent my Christmas money on this year. I still have around $40 left. Oh and we of course had to stop off at Victoria Secret for a bra. They still have some of their 'semi-annual' sale bras left, but it is pretty slim pickins.

2ND DILLONS MEGA SALE FOR ME

Told you I was a fan! Went tonight and did 2 transactions at 2 different stores and this is what I got:

1st transaction
10 GG steamers
15 kraft cheese slices
5 kraft cheese (mozzerella, cheddar)
1 mission tortillas

Total: 11.57 (saved 80.69)

2nd transaction
25 kraft cheese slices
5 GG steamers
1 Tabasco sauce
1 frenchs worcstrshire
1 mission tortillas
2 KC strip steak (BYGO)

Total: 23.68 (saved 81.28) - but one coupon put in manually did not double, AND he skipped or missed another coupon :o( so it should have been 2.75 less.

It was late when I got home so I just wanted to get things put up and relax so no picture, but I think we are set with cheese all the way through summer. Now when the kids ask if they can have 2 slices of cheese on their sandwich or grilled cheese I can say 'You bet!' with a big smile!

I have to tell you I did just as well at Walmart:

1 riceworks chips
4 beggin dog treats
2 maxwell house coffee (small cans)
3 purina cat chow (3.5lbs bags)
2 kotex liners
1 listerine breath strips
2 buddy bar soaps
1 large hersey choc syrup (b/c Cooper has to have his choc milk fix daily - no coupon)

Total: 6.69 (saved 34.15 - most were free and a few with overage)

How fun is this! Tomorrow Walgreens to get my last items for rebates and possibly another trip to Dillons ;o) I am planning a trip to buy a new outfit for church as well, hoping to get in on some winter clothes sales going on - let me know if there is anything out there with BIG savings written all over it. It has been a long time since I went clothes shopping, I'm excited. Will let you know if I find any great deals. Happy Shopping!

I'M HERE

It's so hard to believe how time can just vanish. I have been meaning to post something, anything, but I had some unexpected challenges come up the week following Christmas. I have been doing a lot of praying and reading and I have found this verse to be most helpful:

Romans 5:1-5

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

God has settled my heart and gave me peace this past week and I wanted to praise him for that. Sometimes it is so difficult to view suffering as a way to have an encounter with God, but I have found when I am faced with a situation that I feel is much greater than what my heart can handle I am pushed to reach for God's love. Maybe this is why there is suffering so that we might be drawn closer and if so, (which I do believe as that is what the Word says) then bring the rain!